Summer Time
May 31, 2009 | Filed Under Photos | 19 Comments
Took some photos this morning of two sweet little girls. This one screams summer time, don’t ya think?
Deployment Musings
May 29, 2009 | Filed Under Daniel, Deployment, Photos | 13 Comments
Sometimes I am certain that I hate pre-deployment more than I hate the actual deployment. Nothing is worse than being without Daniel, but the tortured thoughts of a big chunk of life spent without him… while I am living life with him… I think that gives actually living life alone some stiff competition.
I was doing my Streams in the Desert devotional the other morning and I came across this quote by the author, Mrs. Charles Cowman:
“Who does not know that our most sorrowful days have been amongst our best? When the face is wreathed in smiles and we trip lightly over meadows bespangled with spring flowers, the heart is often running to waste.
The soul which is always blithe and gay misses the deepest life. It has its reward, and it is satisfied to its measure, though that measure is a very scanty one. But the heart is dwarfed; and the nature, which is capable of the highest heights, the deepest depths, is undeveloped; and life presently burns down to its socket without having known the resonance of the deepest chords of joy.”
While reading this paragraph along with the rest of the day’s devotional, I remembered something from Daniel’s last deployment. I remembered that I felt thankful for having to go through a deployment; it made me realize how much I truly had. As powerful as the emotions of deep sadness, loneliness, fear, anger were… I was thankful for them because I was truly living. I felt something deeply, strongly. My emotions were passionate. Life wasn’t being passively lived.
Alongside those strong negative feelings, I was also living with hope and expectation. I had goals and a purpose greater than myself. (Remember, I was working my tail off to lose the extra 55 pounds I had gained after Judah was born… so not only was I looking towards a homecoming date of September 21st but also the loss of the unhealthy me.) I remembered that I loved Daniel more strongly than I ever had in our five years of marriage. I looked forward to the day when we would be together again and I swore I would never take him for granted. And I don’t think I have.
Part of me will always hate that deployments are a reality of life but part of me is thankful, too. I would never want my heart to be “dwarfed…” or have my life burned “down to its socket without having known the resonance of the deepest chords of joy.”
“It is a gray day.” “Yes, but dinna ye see the patch of blue?” –Scotch Shoemaker
My prayer is that I will always, always see the patch of blue.
Clearly it was a very enlightening night…
May 27, 2009 | Filed Under Andrea, Eve, Judah, Life Stuff, Photos | 12 Comments
Clearly I need to buy a new pair of jeans…
Clearly my daughter was not going to be anything but cheesetastic this evening…
Clearly she is crazy and I am in my happy place…
Okay, starting to scare me a little…
Clearly my son caught some of Eve’s crazy…
Clearly they get all of this from their father…
Clearly I feel just terrible for hitting a duck in the head with a piece of bread…
Or not.
Even Roses Get Moody Sometimes
May 27, 2009 | Filed Under Life Stuff, Photos | 5 Comments
Here is the original photo for those interested. Taken at dusk with an 18-50mm Sigma lens at 39mm, f2.8 and 100 ISO
Thankfully I am feeling much brighter than those roses.
Just a few things…
Yesterday Daniel brought home a truckload of cardboard boxes and rolled up packing paper from my friend, Katherine’s house. I had prayed for boxes… I didn’t have any, no leads, and time was running out.
God supplied, and in an even better way than I could have imagined. I am so thankful.
~~~~~
Why? Why is it that my children still get up at the same time each morning even though it is summer vacation? Is there a way to re-set their internal clock? This is ridiculous. Mama needs to sleep! It’s summer time, baby!
~~~~~
I finally have most of my voice back – it’s been gone since Friday. I caught a bit of the cold that Eve had a couple of weeks ago. I must have very weak vocal cords because whenever I get a cold… my voice goes. And it always has. You try calling your kids for lunch or anything, really, and having a whisper come out. Poor kids, they couldn’t figure out where my voice had gone. They would just look at me with very confused looks.
~~~~~
I am going to attempt to get a recipe posted. It is a recipe for Mushroom Garlic Cheese rolls that will revolutionize your life. Or at least give you reason to live. Or not anything so melodramatic as all that, but… they are pretty stinkin’ amazing.
Keep an eye or nose out.
How is your week going??
Owning My Body?
May 25, 2009 | Filed Under Musings | 17 Comments
From what I have noticed and read and seen, the big thing right now is “owning your body.” Proclaiming that it is beautiful and strong and perfect just as it is.
Oh yeah?
To be honest, I’m not sure I’m buying what they’re sellin’.
I don’t love my body. Yeah, it supported and gave life three times. It keeps me chuggin’ along, healthfully. But it is far from perfect. I don’t like all the soft hills and valleys. My chest is non-existent, my thighs are puffy, and I’ve got some junk-in-my-truck.
What is there to love about all that?
Swim suit season really drives it all home.
Really? We must don very small pieces of cloth… leaving not much to the imagination? And then get it wet and really leave not much to the imagination?
It just seems cruel.
I sat on the edge of the pool today, looked around, and saw it all. It seemed to me that the ones that didn’t need to be covering it up were. And the ones that, quite honestly, did, were not.
I was a little envious of the non-covering crowd. I would like that kind of confidence… the confidence to not care. But, this mama of three kids who needs to work out wa-a-a-a -y more regularly and not indulge in so much bacon, does not have it.
I eventually did strip down to just my bathing suit but it wasn’t easy.
I kept looking longingly at my dress, wishing it was on my body again.
Will I ever get to that place of “owning my body?” Do the people who proclaim they “own their body just as it is” really do? Is it bad that I don’t like my body? Should I care that much what other people think of my thighs?
Anyways…
My name is Andrea and I don’t “own my body.”
I just needed to get that off my non-exisitent chest.
Surprise Party!
May 25, 2009 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Friends, Photos | 4 Comments
My (terrific) friends surprised me and our friend Catherine (she’s going to nursing school in Florida) with a going away party last night! I had no clue… which was, of course, the point. I started to suspect something was going on when Daniel woke our sleeping children so we could go… “somewhere.”
Really. Wake our sleeping children?
I informed him that he was crazy.
Because, probably like you, should you be a parent, waking sleeping children goes against everything we believe in.
Turns out that the “somewhere” was a party. I was completely surprised and very touched.
Brandy’s amazingly delicious White Texas Sheet cake passed Judah’s sniff test.
The big hit of the night with the kids was the play castle. The parents loved it because between that and the trampoline… all children were contained and happy. Perfect!
Eliza took a turn checking the castle out…
When did my baby girl get to be so big?
I miss the soft, snuggley sweetness of baby Eliza but I am infatuated with little girl Eliza. You know that line “… everything little thing she does is magic?” Yeah, well, that’s how I feel about my Eliza Dove.
She thrills me.
Mixing Loves
May 24, 2009 | Filed Under Photography | 4 Comments
Bokeh, blur, and sunflare.
Cake, Candids, Laughter, Friends, and Diapers.
May 22, 2009 | Filed Under Andrea, Friends, Judah, Life Stuff, Photography, Photos | 14 Comments
I know…. I’m so clever with my titles. It’s a gift, really.
Last night, we celebrated my friend Katherine’s impending arrival of son number two with a casual diaper party.
It was a beautiful night… nice and relaxing; there was a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake made by yours truly… and side-splitting laughter. Such a great time spent with good friends.
There were, of course, gobs of children running around…
Reggy-baby sticking close to her mama.
Ever adventurous Andy.
Beautiful Kendall who was a little hesitant to try the frosting. I think the brilliant mixture of peanut butter and cream cheese won her heart last night.
Judah ate all of his dinner! My boy got cake.
Zane aka ‘Child with the rocking-est hair ever.’
See? I wasn’t lying.
And wagon rides given by Chad.
My goal for last night was to capture only candid photos. I didn’t completely succeed…
There were a few posed ones…
But for the most part I was satisfied…
I won’t tell you what we were laughing about because it was completely gross. Yet, it was hilarious at the same time.
I have been wanting to work on being more comfortable behind the camera in casual group settings; capturing people as they truly are…
My friends were good sports though beautiful Catherine did yell at me once… but she’s all bark.
It was a terrific night with even the cake crumbs being eaten…
Graduation!
May 21, 2009 | Filed Under Eve, Life Stuff, Musings, iHeartFaces | 15 Comments
Eve is graduating Kindergarten today! She is very, very excited. She stumbled into my room at 6:41 a.m. and loudly proclaimed that she HAD to graduate today.
Really, nobody should loudly proclaim anything at 6:41 a.m.
But yes, she must graduate today. The graduation will be complete with cap and gown (why must they do that to us parents? I’d rather skip out of the glimpse of Eve at 18, thankyouverymuch.) and I am sure some sort of tear-jerking something that sums up the Kindergarten year.
And the hits just keep on coming.
I am going to miss having a Kindergartner; first grade seems so..so.. grown-up. But, I only have to wait two years and I will be re-living the, mom of a Kindergartner, life. And then two years after that…. again. The tears will really roll then!
Kindergarten has been a good year for Eve. Boy, did she ever thrive! Our girl loves to learn. And she is good at it too.
Eve is so much like me (but much smarter) in that she tows the line… she received only two “minutes” which are a measure of discipline (each “minute” is one minute sitting out of recess) the entire year. And one was because she had to use the bathroom during non-bathroom time. Eve is a good girl.
This year Eve has learned to read, to write sentences, to do addition and subtraction, to tell time, learned all about the human body, our world, memorized tons of scripture… and on and on! It was a very full year.
Poor girl, she would fall into bed and night and be asleep almost immediately. Eve worked hard, played hard, and made us proud every day.
I am excited to have her home with me for the summer. Even though her Daddy will be gone, I am determined to make this a magical and memorable summer for her. I want her to have fun. These years of being little will be gone so soon, I want to fill up her memory bank with wonderful times.
Happy graduation day to my Eve! I’m happy for you! I’m really happy for me too that it’s not the “real” graduation day….
Diploma time…
Miss Chenault and Eve
Eve and her terrific principle. She truly loved all of the children.
Holy bright sun, man! Post-graduation in our coordinating dresses. So proud of my girl!
May 19, 2009 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Life Stuff | 17 Comments
I don’t compartmentalize well. Or at all. Maybe that’s why I have had such a writer’s block. I can’t seem to make the words come out.
There is too much weighing on my heart, my mind. And because I don’t want this blog to become heavy and laden with my sentimentalism and inability to ‘go with the flow,’ I have just kept my “Sgt and Mrs Hub” mouth shut and my fingers still.
In an effort to make this place my ‘happy place’ I will keep up my normal appearances. But, in doing so, I must confess… I have cheated on you. I am writing on another blog. It’s a quiet little hole in the wall where I can let all my feelings spill out and I check nothing. Nobody reads it, nobody follows me… it is peaceful and it is very good for me.
Someday I will share it with you. I promise.
Back to regular programing…
We played in the sunshine yesterday. And it was lovely. Too bright for taking pictures but I took them anyways. Capturing memories count as more important to me rather than correct exposure.
It was an afternoon filled with cherries, bubbles, sprinkler fun, swimsuits, and lollipops. Summertime at it’s best!
Sisters… they are becoming closer every day. And I love that.
The cherries went like hotcakes! The kids loved them. I loved seeing the pudgy dimpled hands.
I love bubbles… And I love the bubble man.
Bare legs, swim suits, tans… Summer is definitely here!
I will try my hardest to do better with the blogging…. pinky swear.
New Mercies
May 12, 2009 | Filed Under Life Stuff, Photos | 13 Comments
Thankful that morning always comes.
Thankful that His compassions never fail and they are new every day.
Praying that my spirit would settle.
Andrea is in love…
May 11, 2009 | Filed Under Photos | 6 Comments
Hello, Lover.
You rock my world.
Sweet yellow roses, I love you too.
How could I not?
But as for Daniel and my kids… I love them best.
Here’s hoping your Mother’s Day was wonderful too.
The Photo That Wasn’t…
May 10, 2009 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Photos | 18 Comments
Costco was our last stop during our quick Albuquerque trip yesterday. I let the kids run around our section of the deserted parking lot while Daniel was loading up the groceries.
Before we put the kids into the truck, I tried to get a photo…
But it didn’t work so well…
I just let them be…
I was trying to work on my patience…
And not getting my undies in a knot…
It was pretty fun. And I love the candidness of the shots.
Especially the one of the “super” hug…
The super, full body contact hug.
I’m a bad mom. I laughed. And laughed. And laughed. I empathized too. After I caught my breath from laughing.
I have no shame.
But it was funny, man.
And then we loaded everyone into the truck and said “Good-bye, Albuquerque. You were good to us this fine Saturday.”
I watched the sun set through my rear view mirror and a big orange moon rise in front of me.
The perfect ending to a lovely day.
And that is how I ended up with chocolate on my face…
May 7, 2009 | Filed Under Friends, Photos | 15 Comments
Remember the post where I was lamenting my current lot in life? And I mentioned how chocolate covered strawberries could really improve my outlook?
Well….
This morning, three of us girls and our kids met up to walk… it was me, Brandy, and Jamie (and 5 (restrained) kids 3 and under.) Jamie said she needed to stick something in Brandy’s refrigerator before we headed out.
That girl whips out a plate of chocolate covered strawberries.
What a rockstar!
They were all kinds of good. They made my day. And reminded me that I have amazing friends.
My Decision.
May 6, 2009 | Filed Under Compassion, Helping the needy, Photography | 17 Comments
I am a giver by nature. It brings me joy to give and give and give.
Financially speaking, Daniel and I have been faithful to give to various organizations over the course of our marriage. And we have truly enjoyed it. But never have we signed up to sponsor a child through an organization like Compassion.
It’s not for lack of wanting to. Because I have always wanted to very much. Last week, following the stories of the bloggers who went to India with Compassion, intensified my desire. I knew I desperately wanted to sponsor a child.
But, I will tell you what has held me back: I am a terrible letter writer.
I don’t write letters. I procrastinate or I completely forget. Just ask all of my family members… they’ll tell you that it is sadly, very true. So, knowing I would have a child who would rely on me to communicate through letters was the deal-breaker.
All of that sounds incredibly selfish. Get over it, right? Just do it. Set the time aside and write a stinkin’ letter!
But, I knew that I wouldn’t. And letting a child down in that way was a thought I couldn’t bear.
The problem is, I still want to give. I want to sacrifice in some way so that I can bless someone else.
And then it came to me last week. I knew what I could do to help support children in incredible need!
Here it is… Sometimes I take photos for people. And they pay me money. (Not sure why yet. But, they do.) I’ve decided that from here on out, after I tithe on the money, I will give fifty percent of the remaining money to Compassion.
Fifty percent is a lot to me but it’s a good challenge to give more than is comfortable. It’s so easy to have (financially) clenched fists when really, I should have open hands.
I feel so excited about my decision. It’s right, it’s totally doable, and I can follow through easily, every time.
Do you sponsor a child? If you so, tell me about it! How long? What is their name? Where are they living?
If not, is there a way you can help support these little ones that need care so badly?
